Balloon clip hanger



April 5, 1960 J. DODSON BALLOON cup HANGER Filed April 28, 1958 Jose h Dodson INVENTOR.

.flITOFNEy United This invention relates to hangers for inflated miniature or toy balloons and associated devices for maintaining them in inflated condition, and one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a clip hanger of very simple and inexpensive construction which can be easily and quickly attached to an inflated miniature balloon, which can be quickly attached to a support, and which will positively maintain the ballon in inflated condition.

My improved hanger is of particular advantage in the inflation and suspension of large numbers of miniature balloons in conventions halls, auditoriums, parks and other places Where conventions, outings or other large gatherings of people are held.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hanger of the character referred to by means of which a miniature balloon suspended from a horizontal wire, cord or other support will naturally hang with its axis vertical.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hanger of the character mentioned having means for quickly attaching the hanger to the end of a rod or stick extending at right angles to the axis of a balloon carried by the hanger.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive hanger of the character mentioned made of a single resilient wire-like element which may be a metallic wire or of strong plastic composition molded or otherwise formed to the shape designed for its purposes.

Other objects and advantages of my improved balloon clip hanger will be apparent or pointed out in the following specification in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of my improved miniature balloon hanger attached to a miniature balloon and suspended from a wire or cord;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hanger shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hanger shown in Figs. 1 and 2 attached to a miniature balloon;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the hanger shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the hanger; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another modified form of the hanger attached to a miniature balloon.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference numerals designate like parts in the several views, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the form of my improved hanger shown in these views designated generally by the numeral 10 comprises a single resilient wire or wire-like element 12, which may be made of metal,

plastic or other suitable strong material bent or other-.

wise formed into a U-shaped base portion 14 at one end, a continuous ring or loop 16 at its other end and a plurality of parallel return bent portions 18 intermediate of the end portions, the return bent portions being in edgewise alignment with one another and the base poratent O F 2,931,133 Patented Apr. 5, 1960 ice tion 14 and in perpendicuar relation with the plane of the two sides of the U-shaped base portion, which sides are wider apart than the sides of the intermediate return bent portions 18, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The terminal ends of the hanger may be return bent or otherwise rounded as indicated at 20 to preclude puncture thereby of a balloon to which the hanger is attached In the use of my improved hanger 10 is a miniature balloon 22 is inflated in the usual manner and the air inlet neck 24 twisted as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. While being manually held tightly closed the neck is inserted through the open end of the U-shaped base portion 14 and thence forcibly interwoven through the intermediate return bent portions 18, which function as spring clamps to hold the walls of the neck tightly closed, and also hold the neck firmly against withdrawal therefrom. A wire or cord 26 may be inserted through the rings or loops 16 of a number of balloons and secured at the ends to stationary supports (not shown) holding the balloons in a horizontal position. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the bent portions 18 being suspended vertically will maintain the axis of each balloon, indicated by the broken line A-A, in vertical position, as illustrated.

The form of hanger 28 shown in Fig. 5 is in general, the same as that already described, being provided with a U-shaped base portion 30 and return bent portions 32, the only difference being that the end of the hanger opposite the base portion terminates in a hook 34, instead of a ring, the hook being adapted to be engaged with a supporting wire or cord (not shown) which has already been secured to stationary supports.

The form of hanger 36 shown in Fig. 6 is the same as the others described in that it is provided with a U-shaped base portion 38 and return bends 40. However, the end of the hanger opposite the base terminates in a tapered spiral spring portion 42, which may be disposed at right angles to the plane of the base portion 38, as illustrated, or it may be disposed in perpendicular relation with the plane of the base. In either form the outer end of the spring portion is adapted to receive and tightly encircle the end portion of a rod or stick 44, which may be tapered at the end, as shown at 46, to facilitate its insertion through the spring portion 42. Since the spring portion 42 is expansible, rods or sticks of various sizes may be inserted in it. This form of hanger is particularly useful for toy balloons for children, or when large numbers of miniature balloons are to be carried, as, for example, in a parade.

The necks of miniature balloons are usually provided at their outer ends with flanges 48, which are disposed outside the hanger when attached thereto, however, it should be understood that my improved hangers grip the necks of the balloons so firmly that the flanges 48 are not utilized as a means of holding the necks against withdrawal from the hangers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive hanger for miniature or toy balloons which can be easily and quickly attached to a balloon and will tightly hold and maintain the balloon in inflated condition; and can be modified with little or no additional cost for attachment to various types of supports.

Obviously, other modifications or changes in construction of my improved hanger may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore it should be understood that the forms of my invention shown and described are intended to be illustrative, only, and restricted only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger for a miniature balloon having an air inlet neck, said hanger being formed of a single resilient wirelike element into a U-shaped base portion at one end and with means at its other end for engagement with a support, and also with a plurality of intermediate return bent portions formed as an extension of one leg of said base portion in a uniform plane parallel with said leg and in perpendicular relation with the plane of said base portion, said hanger being adapted for attachment to said balloon by first inflating the balloon, then twisting the neck, inserting the latter into the open end of the U-shaped base portion and forcibly interweaving it through said return bent portions, said portions functioning as spring clamps for holding said neck against withdrawal therefrom with said base portion seated flatly and tightly against said balloon.

2. A hanger for a miniature balloon as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for engagement with a sup- 15 3. A hanger for a miniature balloon as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient Wire-like element consists of a resilient metallic Wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,691 Goldberg et al Jan. 10, 1939 2,312,369 Solecki Mar. 2, 1943 2,396,906 Windson Mar. 19, 1946 2,464,665 Anderson Mar. 15, 1949 2,510,883 Goldberg June 6, 1950 2,840,948 Sticldey July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,684 Great Britain 1907 

